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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/e-for-all-attendance-drops-in-second-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/e-for-all-attendance-drops-in-second-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/e-for-all-attendance-drops-in-second-year/#commentsFiled under: Culture

The E for All attendance numbers aren't exactly the most robust for an event being held in a megalopolis like Los Angeles, especially when compared to PAX 2008's 58,500 attendees who trekked up through the great wilderness to find the sleepy town of Seattle. Meanwhile, BlizzCon is capped at 15,000 attendees and those tickets, at $100 apiece, sold out almost as soon as they went on sale. IDG has not announced an E for All Expo for 2009 at this point

Tucked away in the dark, at the far back of E for All is a fair-sized Gears of War 2 booth with many stations showing off the Horde mode, and handing out COG tags. However, these are fairly normal sized tags, about the size of a dollar coin. So what's up with this image of a giant COG that looks like it could serve as Sauron's ring?

We asked one of the community managers at the GoW2 booth, and he said, "Wait... did you see this image recently? A huge COG tag that's thick and made out of metal? Yeah, there's a big announcement about that coming out. I can't say anything about it really, but keep watching the website all weekend. And no, it's not something you can buy. It's made of metal, is thick, and weighs about two pounds."

Is Epic hiding these in the world somewhere, and there's a contest to find them? Are they items you can win based on your in-game performance like those rings they added to Madden? Is it just a huge paperweight? We'll keep watching the site, which yesterday put up a blurb about COGs. How convenient. What do you think it is?

E for All remains the ghostly and distant third cousin of the previous mammoth version of E3 that's open to the public, and it takes place inside the carcass of that fearsome beast, the Los Angeles Convention Center. While we misjudged the time and arrived two hours early, that gives us plenty of time to peruse the schedule and pick our poison.

And the... Los Angeles Unified School District? "Participating students will obtain a deeper understanding of video games and how they can be incorporated into their future careers from speakers - including Fatal1ty - who will describe their experience with video games and ways to break into the industry." Run kids, run.

His face may be broken, but EA's Peter Moore likes to speak his mind, and what's on his mind lately is last week's E3, a gathering that he thinks can be fixed by opening it up to the public. Whoa, maybe all of that ink has gone to his brain, or has he already forgotten the madhouse that the annual used to be, when everyone and their brother seemed to find a way to roam the show's halls? Plus, isn't that what E for All is for, anyway?

Calling the event "soulless and lacking an epicenter," the former Microsoft exec suggests that organizers "invite the community" to the show, adding that given enough planning, letting gamers experience E3 first hand will help companies create better games and forge new ideas. Of course, it would likely be too crowded for any of the attending press to get any work done, but that's beside the point. Right, Pete?

The E for All Expo website has relaunched to reveal EA will attend the show for a second year. Ticket prices are a little easier to swallow than last year, with an early bird special to the three-day event costing $45 for ages 14+ and $25 for kids 6-13 with registration by July 15. After that, tickets for all three days of the show will be $60 for adults who pre-register and $75 for general admission. (Pricing graphic can be found after the break.)

Microsoft, along with numerous other heavyweights including Sony, Capcom, and Sega, balked at last year's E for All, leaving Nintendo and a handful of others to show off their wares to those who could trouble themselves long enough to attend. Now, after turning its back on IDG's 'not-quite-E3' public gathering in 2007, Microsoft has had a change of heart, throwing its considerable weight behind this year's edition as the event's first confirmed exhibitor.

IDG CEO Mary Dolaher noted in a statement that the organizer is "thrilled" to have Microsoft on board, and that it looks for the company's presence at the show to help improve upon the previous year's "great success." Even so, one exhibitor does not a great convention make, and while Dolaher notes that more participants will be revealed in the weeks ahead, it remains to be seen what other companies will join Microsoft around the E for All campfire this October 3-5.

The event's scheduling seems to be a twofer for IDG as the expo company is holding its GreenXchange environmental event at the LACC from October 1 to October 3. More information will be forthcoming, but organizers say to expect a show similar to last year.

Imagine our absolute panic and horror this morning when we checked the news wires to discover that E3 -- yes, the E3 -- was going on this week! No flights scheduled, no hotels booked and we didn't even send Ludwig to the doctor for his dry-wit injection this week -- wait, we didn't even get our invitations to the event! Thankfully, after reading through the first couple paragraphs we discovered that there was just some horrible computer error and there actually is no E3 this week ... we think. They could be hiding it.

In related news, IDG World Expo, the organizers of the E for All event, say that 18,000 attended the inaugural show. Maybe they'll be able to up those numbers by getting Sony and Microsoft to attend when they hold E for All again (yup, it's already planned) much earlier next year at the LA Convention Center from Aug. 28 -30. Anybody who actually attended the event want to chime in on how it went?

You've heard our initial thoughts on E for All, but as day two starts we thought we'd gather up some early impressions of the show from other outlets and slap them together in a classic metareview. We'll probably end up doing another one of these at the end of the show if enough outlets do wrap-up impressions. Just to be clear, these are initial impressions and do not convey what can or will happen with the E for All show over the weekend (when there's gotta be more people going). Check out the shot of the LA Convention Center lobby from E3 2006 after the break for a comparison to the E for All one above.

Macworld: "Some industry veterans who arrived on Thursday were a bit disappointed by what they saw. E3 veterans are accustomed to seeing every square inch of the mammoth convention center overflowing with game content. That's not the case with the new E for All show, as it only occupies the center's still-cavernous South Hall. But still, visitors were upbeat about getting their hands on the latest games and gaming technology, and vendors were anxiously anticipating a steadily increasing stream of foot traffic throughout the next few days."

NextGen: "On a preliminary basis, the show does seem to suffer from the fact that Sony and Microsoft aren't present-maybe next year. Not having several of the big third-party publishers present as exhibitors also brings down the energy level a bit, perhaps more so than we expected now that we're actually on the show floor."

Game|Life: "E for All is a ghost town, right now. I was talking with the Nintendo guys about how nice it is to be able to actually swing your arms and not hit other people. But that's because the show floor is small and attendance is smaller. There are maybe a few thousand people in South Hall, spread wide out across the thin showing of booths. ... To be fair, the show's currently only open to pre-registered attendees. And it's a Thursday. Hopefully things will improve for this show closer to the weekend, or once they let in people off the street at 3 PM. But right now, wow. It's pretty sparse."

Kotaku: "Around 3 PM, when those who hadn't pre-registered for the event were permitted to enter, crowds grew by about a third, but there was virtually no waiting to get on most games. ... Granted, it's Thursday, and many of the gamers who might be interested in hitting up E For All may not be able to make it down until the weekend, but first impressions of public interest in the event isn't fantastic. We could very well be looking at the first, and the last, E For All Expo. No one will mistake this event for the 'new E3.'"

Since we were running from appointment to appointment, we didn't have much time to shoot video, although be sure and check out our 200+ image (and growing) E For All gallery for your edutainment.

What video we did manage to shoot and cram into iMovie and then upload hastily to Viddler is here, also for your edutainment. As you can see, Rock Band and Guitar Hero III were popular stops, and Namco's Pac-Man heads were a hot commodity. There's a bit of Super Smash Bros. Brawl tossed in, although a Nintendo-bot came over and told us that we couldn't film the gameplay footage since, "The game isn't out yet." Strange, but we sort of thought that was the idea behind showing it off at E For All. Anyhow, she let us keep what we filmed, and then went off after another amateur cameraman.

We'll be bringing you more from the floor today and through the weekend, including more impressions of MGS4, some interviews, and more hands-on than you can shake a Wiimote at. If there's something you've heard about at the show that you want captured on video or with some photos, let us know ... just please don't make us document the selection in the food court. We beg of you.

In fact, since it's held in the exact same place that E3 used to be, it's impossible not to compare it to the other shows. In fact it sort of feels like E3 reborn, except that they forgot to send out invites and let people know about it. There were a few busy areas, like the Konami booth which had a line of people all day long waiting to play the MGS4 demo (which was sweet, more on that later), and the Nintendo booth had bleachers set up where people patiently waited to get their hand on Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which was also sweet. If by sweet you mean button-mashy, which we do.

Also popular was Link's Crossbow Training, which we'll be playing tomorrow, and of course, Guitar Hero 3. We also witnessed several people pulling Peter Moore's at the Rock Band trailer, which was an extremely cool setup ... but sort of sparsely attended. Probably due to the fact that no one really wants to hear perfect strangers butchering The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go."

This holiday Target stores will stock a special edition of Guitar Hero III for PS2 which includes two specially designed SG wired guitars for $110. Cutting to the chase, this means the extra guitar is $30, saving you $10 off the guitar's normal $40 price. Considering co-op and competition seem to be a focus in this latest Guitar Hero, the bundle doesn't seem like a bad deal for those who don't already have a guitar sitting around. There is no announcement about a Wii, PS3 or Xbox 360 bundle, but each of those systems should have online options to find another player -- with varying degrees of success.

Target is also sponsoring a Guitar Herocompetition at E for All this week. We contacted the PR reps for the event and the bundle won't be a prize at the competition. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock hits store shelves on Oct. 28.

Don't feel empty and unfulfilled any longer. The E for All Expo, organized by IDG World Expo (MacWorld Expo) and completely unrelated to an illegal substance that makes people worship glowsticks, kicks off today. VIP access began at 11:00 am PT while general admission guests can peruse the show floor starting at 3:00 pm PT (that's 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm ET, respectively).

Those in the Los Angeles area can attend the E for All Expo at the LA Convention Center, former home to the E3 Expo. On-site registration costs $50 to $90, but you do get to try out Smash Bros. Brawl and Metal Gear Solid 4. Joystiq has sent operatives to infiltrate the show floor, we'll report our findings.

For those still attending E for All, y'all might as well make the best of it and win some prizes at the Guitar Hero event/competition sponsored by Target. The event will be held during E for All in the South Hall at the LA Convention Center, which we're guessing means you have to purchase an E for All ticket to enter the competition.

Judging will be based on scoring, accuracy and performance. So even if you aren't the most proficient Guitar Hero player, if you put on a good show you may still win something. You're also allowed to bring your own guitar. Winners will receive "$3,000 in cash and Target gift cards." The press release says there will be "celebrity judges," but for all we know that could mean Charo. Actually, Charo would be awesome!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eforallghIIIguitarherotarget competitionXbox-360Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/brawl-and-galaxy-at-nintendos-e-for-all-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/brawl-and-galaxy-at-nintendos-e-for-all-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/brawl-and-galaxy-at-nintendos-e-for-all-booth/#commentsWe've known for quite some time now that Nintendo would be backing E For All. Word just hit today, however, that playable versions of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy will be on-hand for those in attendance. Nintendo, who wasn't showing their face at TGS07, didn't even have a playable build of Brawl on the show floor at E307. Even with the game only a few months away, it'd be nice to get a taste of the action. Perhaps even get to play as one of the new characters. Not only that, but Nintendo will host daily tournaments, hooking each day's winner up with an exclusive Wii T-shirt.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eforallsuper-mario-galaxysuper-smash-bros-brawlsupermariogalaxysupersmashbrosbrawlTue, 09 Oct 2007 23:08:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/e-for-all-those-with-empty-unfulfilled-lives/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/e-for-all-those-with-empty-unfulfilled-lives/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/e-for-all-those-with-empty-unfulfilled-lives/#commentsFiled under: Culture, VideoAre you a complete and utter failure? Do you find yourself staring into the distance, sighing into the echoing caverns of your life? Is your sad existence often accompanied by music from an equally sad piano? Are you just about ready to type "quit" into the command prompt of life? If you answered positively to any of the above questions, you're much better off than the people in this video. They're likely too ensnared by regret and ineptitude to even muster any sort of response.

These men, women and curly-haired nerds will be off attending the E for All Expo from Oct. 18 to Oct. 21, where they'll "power up and play" and experience the "cutting edge of the video gaming world" -- provided they don't use it to cut their wrists. Judging by the exciting games montage, they can look forward to playing World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero and some racing game that's probably been out for months. As if that wasn't enough, the show's exhibitor list also promises encounters with the 5-Hour Energy booth and (OMG) Fatal1ty!

Following yesterday's report by FiringSquad that EA appears to be out of E for All -- essentially turning the event into Nintendo-Con '08 -- the company behind the show went on the defense saying that EA would still be attending. Mary Dolaher, CEO of IDG World Expo, spoke to GameDaily BIZ saying, "They have booth space that they purchased in front of South Hall. They are in the show. We have the signed contract, they plan to be there and we're working with them on their designs and what will be displayed and the products shown." So, why did the press release stating their attendance and logos get pulled from the E for All site? Dolaher blames EA's lawyers, saying that they were being picky on where the EA name and logo could be used, whether it's a "billboard or a bus wrap or whatever the case may be."

As for Microsoft and Sony being out of the show, Dolaher even says that isn't so true. In a separate interview with Next-Gen she says, "Just because a company is not on our website [as an exhibitor] doesn't mean that there may not be other ways that their products are represented beyond the traditional booth." Microsoft is a sponsor of the World Series of Video Games being held there and they're trying to get PSP and PS3 kiosks for the show from Sony. Activision will also have a Guitar Hero Gamers Stage despite not being an exhibitor. Well, it took long enough for IDG to start damage control on these developing E for All issues.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSeaeforallElectronic-ArtsmicrosoftPS3PSPsonyWiiXbox-360Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:40:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/rumor-ea-out-of-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/rumor-ea-out-of-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/rumor-ea-out-of-e-for-all/#commentsFiled under: BusinessFiringSquad is reporting that Electronic Arts may have pulled out of the inaugural E for All Expo. If true, this does not bode well for the fledgling expo intended to be a consumer replacement for E3. Sony and Microsoft have already said they will not attend the event. Nintendo is currently the only major confirmation and the industry PR rumor-mill has it that involved something other than Nintendo's enthusiastic wish to attend.

FiringSquad noticed that the EA exhibitor announcement has been removed from the E for All Expo webiste, also the revolving list of company logos on the site no longer features EA. Currently the list of those not attending the event is a who's who of the industry beyond the big three, including Activision, Capcom, NCSoft, Sega, Midway and others. Looks like E for All may need to be renamed Nintendo-Con '08.

Update: IDG, the company behind E for All, contacted FiringSquad to say that EA will still be attending. Their statement reads in part, "IDG World Expo would like to confirm that (Electronic Arts) is participating in this year's event." FiringSquad has yet to hear back from EA and there was no explanation as to why EA was removed from the expo's promotion website.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaeforallElectronic-ArtsmicrosoftsonyWed, 29 Aug 2007 11:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/microsoft-a-no-show-at-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/microsoft-a-no-show-at-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/microsoft-a-no-show-at-e-for-all/#commentsE for All, the ESA planned event that is supposed to bring the excitement of last year's E3 to the gaming masses, is starting to appear less and less exciting with Microsoft officially announcing that they will not be attending. Confirming with GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft and all of Microsoft Game Studios will not make the trip to the LA Convention center this October more than likely due to the proposition of cost versus how much exposure the event will generate. But Microsoft isn't the only company to avoid E for All with others like Sony, Midway, Capcom and SEGA all confirming that they too will not be attending. We're note sure how big or exciting the new E for All will end up being, but with Microsoft not in the mix you could say that we're a little less interested in going. Sorry E for All, we loves our Microsoft.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eforallesamicrosoftMon, 27 Aug 2007 12:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/25/microsoft-joins-sony-saying-no-thanks-to-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/25/microsoft-joins-sony-saying-no-thanks-to-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/25/microsoft-joins-sony-saying-no-thanks-to-e-for-all/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360GameIndustry.biz has apparently confirmed that Microsoft will not be attending the E for All expo in LA at the end of October. Microsoft joins Sony now in ignoring the event organized by IDG World Expo, which was intended as a consumer-based replacement for E3. Sega, Capcom, SOE and Midway (who probably couldn't afford it anyway) will also not be attending.

On the bright side of things, Nintendo and Electronic Arts have confirmed their attendance. They'll be joined by Konami, THQ, Namco Bandai and others. With Microsoft and Sony's non-attendance, this event would have been a total bust without Nintendo. Makes you wonder what it took for them to be an anchor? We're not saying anything, we're just asking.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eforallexpoidglamicrosoftnintendoPS3sonyWiiXbox-360Sat, 25 Aug 2007 10:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/sony-ignoring-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/sony-ignoring-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/sony-ignoring-e-for-all/#comments
The point of E for All was to provide gaming to the masses, replacing the mega E3 of yore. However, it doesn't look like E for All will come anywhere close to the comprehensiveness of a traditional E3 show. The biggest absence in the upcoming consumer show? Sony. Sony Computer Entertainment America corporate communications spokesperson Kimberly Otzman told FiringSquad: "At this point in time we don't have any plans to participate in the E for All Expo."

In addition to Sony, other noteworthy publishers opting out of the show include Sony Online Entertainment, NCSoft, Sega and Capcom. Although Nintendo is planning a presence at the program, it doesn't appear rival console manufacturer Microsoft has plans to attend either. With so many noteworthy publishers absent, will E for All really fulfill the E3 niche that gamers are so hungry for? Most likely not.

Along with the major console maker, publishers NCSoft, Sega and Capcom will also be missing the October show, according to FiringSquad. The show won't be a total bust, though: Nintendo and EA will be there, along with THQ, Konami, Namco, Intel and NVIDIA.

These losses are a pretty major blow as the new show tries to become a must-attend event. Any show that's going to replace E3 is going to have to quickly build up to a critical mass of publisher attention to draw in the press and consumer interest that makes an expo work.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E For AllE3EForAllexpoIDGPS3WiiXbox-360Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:53:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/another-e3-organizer-goes-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/another-e3-organizer-goes-e-for-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/another-e3-organizer-goes-e-for-all/#commentsFiled under: Culture, E3, BusinessCarolyn Rauch, former Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association, has been named VP of event development at the International Data Group World Expo. Rauch's move follows in the footsteps of Mary Dolaher, a former VP for ESA who early last month became CEO of IDG World Group.

The E for All Expo is being organized by IDG World Group in the shadow of the ESA-organized E3 (now shrunken like an iPod to the E3 Media and Business Summit). Don't expect competitive words or sentiments, as IDG is managing E3, but two figures from the glitz-era E3 handling E for All is further proof the public event is trying to retain the atmosphere the formerly extravagant convention.

Early registration for GamePro's E for All Expo, set for October 18-21 at E3's old home -- the Los Angeles Convention Center -- is now open. You can register at the E for All website here. The current phase ends September 1, and tickets are $45 for a Thursday/Friday pass, $65 for Saturday/Sunday or $90 for all four days. After September 1, prices move into the range of $50 to $110.

In addition to cheaper ticket prices, early registrants get to play on the show floor earlier, with a grand total of seven extra hours available. With E3's downsizing this year, the expo is hoping to fill Los Angeles' quota for large gamer gatherings.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EForAlllaccLosAngelesTue, 05 Jun 2007 20:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/leipzig-benefits-for-e3-death-gets-40-larger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/leipzig-benefits-for-e3-death-gets-40-larger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/leipzig-benefits-for-e3-death-gets-40-larger/#commentsFiled under: CultureE3 died and every other convention seemed to benefit. The Game Developers Conference got more exposure this year than ever before and now the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention is filling in their lederhosen and reports a 40% growth. The growth is apparently due to international exhibitors from outside of Germany. It sounds like the Kentia Hall crowd found a new local.

Every major gaming company will be in attendance. Despite what Guillemot wants to believe about his Ubiday, Leipzig is the European E3. A bunch of companies are putting more effort into the show, Activision says, "We expect crowds of national and internationa trade visitors ... to be prepared for that, we are expanding our presentation at this year's fair." Fill in that vacuum everyone, there's still plenty of space to fill up in E3's absence.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3eforallgame conventionkentialeipzigpaxTue, 22 May 2007 21:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/hey-want-to-attend-e-for-all-on-the-cheap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/hey-want-to-attend-e-for-all-on-the-cheap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/hey-want-to-attend-e-for-all-on-the-cheap/#commentsE For All is coming up in October and us press types have gotten ourselves invited. With Nintendo backing the show, our invite was easily secured and we managed to also coerce* some discount action for you, fine reader. That's right, we've got 50 (count 'em, 50!) invites up for grabs, set aside especially for our readers by the folks in charge of the event, allowing them to gain access to the show for a discounted price. With Nintendo being featured so predominantly at the show, you're definitely going to want to be at the LA Convention Center this October.

So, how does one go ahead and take advantage of this offer? Well, first you'll want to head over to the official site here and in the top-right "VIP invite code" section, input the code wiifanboy (clicking that link will already fill the code in for you). Upon doing so, you'll need to set up an account with them and purchase whichever discounted ticket plan you want to go with. Reserving your ticket early doesn't only gain you a few extra bucks in your pocket, but also awards you:

Seven bonus hours of gameplay, including four on the first day

Exclusive E for All merchandise, only available through advance purchase

Special E for All commemorative badge

Special contests, "privileges" and partner offers

Access to premium seating at Video Games Live Concert

Opportunity to invite two additional friends

We'd like to thank the fine folks at E For All for extending us this courtesy and as the show nears, we'll let you all know how to stalk us for the entire show find us.

*forcefully pry from their cold, dead hands

Update: It's come to our attention that some of you might be confused about this. By signing up, you aren't getting free tickets to the show or anything. You have to pay for them, simply using our invite code will allow you to purchase tickets at a discount, rather than pay full price.

Though mention of Gamepro's E for All Expo may prompt you to envision a discreet gathering of drug dealers or a wild party where people bash each other over the head with giant foam letters, the truth is that entertainment will be the only thing being distributed. With Nintendo acting as a "flagship" for the October event, many expect it to replace the glitz and clamor of E3, with the exception of it being open to all. All with at least $50 in hand, of course.

Speaking to Gamespot last week, IDG World Expo vice president and show organizer, Mary Dolaher, revealed the exact pricing of the different entry tickets. How MaryDolahers many dollars are you expected to part with, exactly? Single day tickets for Thursday and Friday will set you back $50, whereas single day tickets for the weekend go for $75. A four-day pass is set at $110.

Though the precise scope of industry support for the expo has yet to be seen, there are probably more terrible ways to spend $50 in a day. The E For All Expo will run in Los Angeles from 18 October to 21 October, with general admission tickets going on sale in June.

Looks like E for All, IDG's open-to-the-public E3-wannabe, has signed up Nintendo to be an "anchor" exhibitor when the expo hits LA this October. The four-day event touts the presence of Nintendo, their "flagship" exhibitor, as a demonstration of the "importance of a broad consumer-focused event for this industry." Though that's where they ran out of nautically-themed adjectives, it's not where the announcements stop: Don James, Nintendo of America Executive Vice President of Operations, will be on E for All's Exhibitor Advisory Board where he'll undoubtedly advise them on all matters exhibitor. With the Big N ready to "power up & play" in LA this October, E for All just took a rather large step from the doldrums of exhibition also-rans to the "hmmm, maybe we'll go to that after all"s.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EforAllThu, 29 Mar 2007 10:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/e-for-all-advertised-at-macworld-expo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/e-for-all-advertised-at-macworld-expo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/e-for-all-advertised-at-macworld-expo/#commentsFiled under: Culture, BusinessIDG World Expo, the company that puts on the Macworld Expo, is already advertising its Tea for Two ExpoE for All Expo at this Mac convention with stacks of fliers greeting show visitors. (We hope there's a Mac games audience here this week; is that the reason for the fliers? Is IDG Expo just trying to reach show-goers on the way to the iPhone?)

Of course, it's hard to predict the show vibe of the EA Expo E for All Expo, but these cards and their edgy Halloween font scream "attitude to the max" or maybe just "quick turnaround." If E3 died because it cost exhibitors too much to cause a scene -- waving shiny models at retailers and the media -- here's hoping that E4EVR E for All reigns in some of the hype. Nah, who are we kidding? If it's aimed at a consumer audience, won't that just be an excuse for more noise?

On the topic of terrible and somewhat inappropriate jokes, Gamepro's website has officially revealed the new title for their upcoming "E3 follow-up" expo, to be held in association with IDG World Expo. Equal parts Marx and Mork, "Entertainment for All Expo" is the winning title chosen out of 3,000 entries on Gamepro's website. It certainly speaks volumes about the quality of the other 2,999.

The E for All Expo is fully endorsed by the Entertainment Software Association, despite it flying in the face of E3's concerns like a shrieking bat. The event will give consumers the chance to experience all manner of games and gadgetry, allowing them to purchase some of the items they've seen on the way out. E For All will also host gaming tournaments, job fairs and Video Games Live concerts.

Throbbing mass of gamers -- check. Extraordinarily loud music -- check. "No longer just for industry insiders" -- check. The evidence makes it quite clear. This is the successor to E3. Looks like members of the press will just have to make due with Min-E3 (at least it has a cooler name).